U.S. patent number 11,272,254 [Application Number 16/986,047] was granted by the patent office on 2022-03-08 for system, method, and computer program for using user attention data to make content recommendations.
This patent grant is currently assigned to AMDOCS DEVELOPMENT LIMITED. The grantee listed for this patent is Amdocs Development Limited. Invention is credited to Liat Taub Bahar, Eran Yosef Paran, Shmuel Ur.
United States Patent |
11,272,254 |
Paran , et al. |
March 8, 2022 |
System, method, and computer program for using user attention data
to make content recommendations
Abstract
As described herein, a system, method, and computer program are
provided for deriving user attention data. In use, user attention
data is collected for a user. The user attention data includes
first information describing content being viewed by a user on a
first device, and second information describing user activity
occurring on the first device and/or one or more second devices
while the content is being viewed by the user on the first device.
Further, the first information and the second information are
processed, using a machine learning model, to predict a degree to
which the user likes the content. Still yet, the prediction is
output for use in making one or more content recommendations.
Inventors: |
Paran; Eran Yosef (Hod
Hasharon, IL), Bahar; Liat Taub (Kfar Sabba,
IL), Ur; Shmuel (Shorashim, IL) |
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Amdocs Development Limited |
Limassol |
N/A |
CY |
|
|
Assignee: |
AMDOCS DEVELOPMENT LIMITED
(Limassol, CY)
|
Family
ID: |
1000005049330 |
Appl.
No.: |
16/986,047 |
Filed: |
August 5, 2020 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04N
21/44222 (20130101); H04N 21/41407 (20130101); G06N
5/04 (20130101); H04N 21/4532 (20130101); H04N
21/4668 (20130101); G06N 20/00 (20190101); H04N
21/4667 (20130101); H04N 21/812 (20130101); H04N
21/4662 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
H04N
21/466 (20110101); H04N 21/414 (20110101); G06N
5/04 (20060101); H04N 21/81 (20110101); G06N
20/00 (20190101); H04N 21/45 (20110101); H04N
21/442 (20110101) |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Hong; Michael H
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Zilka-Kotab, P.C.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing computer code
executable by a processor to perform a method comprising:
collecting user attention data for a user, the user attention data
including: first information describing content being viewed by a
user on a first device, wherein the first information indicates
that the user is viewing a movie or television show on the first
device, and second information describing user activity occurring
on at least one of the first device or one or more second devices
while the content is being viewed by the user on the first device,
wherein the second information indicates a call or text message
received by the user on the first device or a second device;
processing the user attention data, using a machine learning model,
to predict a degree to which the user likes the content, wherein
the machine learning model is a model of a machine learning
algorithm trained to make predictions associated with users liking
viewed content based on user activity occurring during viewing of
the content, and wherein: when the user activity described by the
second information includes the user ignoring the call or text
message, then the machine learning model predicts that the movie or
television show is interesting to the user, and when the user
activity described by the second information includes the user
accepting the call or responding to the text message, then the
machine learning model predicts that the movie or television show
is less interesting to the user than when the user activity
described by the second information includes the user ignoring the
call or text message; and outputting the prediction for use in
making one or more content recommendations.
2. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 1, wherein
the method is performed by a communication service provider
providing a first service through which the content is viewed and a
second service through which the user activity occurs.
3. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 1, wherein
the first device is one of a television or a mobile computing
device.
4. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 1, wherein
the one or more second devices include a mobile phone.
5. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 1, wherein
the machine learning model is trained using training data that
includes: demographic data for a plurality of users, and
correlations between media viewed by the plurality of users and
additional activity of the plurality of users during the media
viewing.
6. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 1, wherein
the machine learning model further processes demographic
information collected on the user, for use in predicting the degree
to which the user likes the content.
7. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 1, wherein
making the one or more content recommendations includes selecting
additional content to be targeted to the user.
8. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 1, further
comprising: targeting the additional content to the user.
9. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 7, wherein
the additional content is an advertisement.
10. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 7, wherein
the additional content is a movie or a television show.
11. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 8, wherein
the additional content is targeted to the user while the content is
being viewed by the user.
12. A method, comprising: collecting user attention data for a
user, the user attention data including: first information
describing content being viewed by a user on a first device,
wherein the first information indicates that the user is viewing a
movie or television show on the first device, and second
information describing user activity occurring on at least one of
the first device or one or more second devices while the content is
being viewed by the user on the first device, wherein the second
information indicates a call or text message received by the user
on the first device or a second device; processing the user
attention data, using a machine learning model, to predict a degree
to which the user likes the content, wherein the machine learning
model is a model of a machine learning algorithm trained to make
predictions associated with users liking viewed content based on
user activity occurring during viewing of the content, and wherein:
when the user activity described by the second information includes
the user ignoring the call or text message, then the machine
learning model predicts that the movie or television show is
interesting to the user, and when the user activity described by
the second information includes the user accepting the call or
responding to the text message, then the machine learning model
predicts that the movie or television show is less interesting to
the user than when the user activity described by the second
information includes the user ignoring the call or text message;
and outputting the prediction for use in making one or more content
recommendations.
13. A system, comprising: a non-transitory memory storing
instructions; and one or more processors in communication with the
non-transitory memory that execute the instructions to perform a
method comprising: collecting user attention data for a user, the
user attention data including: first information describing content
being viewed by a user on a first device, wherein the first
information indicates that the user is viewing a movie or
television show on the first device, and second information
describing user activity occurring on at least one of the first
device or one or more second devices while the content is being
viewed by the user on the first device, wherein the second
information indicates a call or text message received by the user
on the first device or a second device; processing the user
attention data, using a machine learning model, to predict a degree
to which the user likes the content, wherein the machine learning
model is a model of a machine learning algorithm trained to make
predictions associated with users liking viewed content based on
user activity occurring during viewing of the content, and wherein:
when the user activity described by the second information includes
the user ignoring the call or text message, then the machine
learning model predicts that the movie or television show is
interesting to the user, and when the user activity described by
the second information includes the user accepting the call or
responding to the text message, then the machine learning model
predicts that the movie or television show is less interesting to
the user than when the user activity described by the second
information includes the user ignoring the call or text message;
and outputting the prediction for use in making one or more content
recommendations.
14. The system of claim 13, wherein the system is a communication
service provider system.
15. The system of claim 14, wherein communication service provider
system provides a first service through which the content is viewed
and a second service through which the user activity occurs.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to techniques for making content
recommendations.
BACKGROUND
Content providers have significant interest in determining content
that is relevant (e.g. personalized) to its users. This content may
be media content and/or advertisements. There are various
parameters that have been used to identify content that is relevant
to users, such as demographics of the users, location of the users,
content viewing activity of the users, among other information.
One parameter that is particularly useful for determining relevancy
of content to users relates to a degree to which the users are
expected to like the content. This parameter can be estimated for a
particular user, at least in part, based on prior content viewing
activity of that user, including an evaluation of a degree to which
the user liked the content previously viewed. Algorithms currently
exist which evaluate the extent to which a user likes content (i.e.
finds the content agreeable). However, these algorithms focus on
the user's behavior as it relates to the content itself, such as
whether the user watched an entirety of the content, whether the
user watched similar content after viewing the content, etc., which
limits the degree of accuracy in the evaluation results. For
example, these algorithms have not taken into consideration the
multi-tasking behavior of the user while viewing content.
There is thus a need for addressing these and/or other issues
associated with the prior art.
SUMMARY
As described herein, a system, method, and computer program are
provided for deriving user attention data for use in making content
recommendations. In use, user attention data is collected for a
user. The user attention data includes first information describing
content being viewed by a user on a first device, and second
information describing user activity occurring on the first device
and/or one or more second devices while the content is being viewed
by the user on the first device. Further, the first information and
the second information are processed, using a machine learning
model, to predict a degree to which the user likes the content.
Still yet, the prediction is output for use in making one or more
content recommendations.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 illustrates a method for using user attention data to make
content recommendations, in accordance with one embodiment.
FIG. 2 illustrates a block diagram of a method for training a
machine learning model to predict content that will be liked by
users, in accordance with one embodiment.
FIG. 3 illustrates a block diagram of a method for using the
machine learning model of FIG. 2 to predict in real-time whether a
user will like content, in accordance with one embodiment.
FIG. 4 illustrates a network architecture, in accordance with one
possible embodiment.
FIG. 5 illustrates an exemplary system, in accordance with one
embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
FIG. 1 illustrates a method for using user attention data to make
content recommendations, in accordance with one embodiment. The
method 100 may be performed by a system (e.g. server, etc.), such
as a system of a content provider, and in particular a
communication service provider (CSP). The CSP is an entity, formed
as a system architecture, which provides services to users. In the
present embodiment, the services include at least a content
distribution service, such as a media, television and/or streaming
service. However, the services may additionally include
communication services, such as an Internet service, a telephone
service, etc.
The CSP has customers which are users of one or more services of
the CSP. In one embodiment, the customers may each have an account
with the CSP (i.e. may be subscriber to the one or more services of
the CSP). The system may thus have access to information stored for
its customers, such as account information, demographic
information, service usage information, location information,
etc.
In operation 102, user attention data is collected for a user. The
user attention data refers to data indicative of a degree to which
a user's attention is given to content currently being
viewed/presented on a device of the user. In the context of the
present embodiment, the user attention data includes first
information describing content being viewed by a user on a first
device. In one embodiment, the first information may be collected
via a first service of the CSP through which the content is viewed
by the user. For example, the first information may be collected
from a logs generated by the first service which indicate content
viewed by its customers.
The content may be any viewable content capable of being
distributed (e.g. streamed, downloaded, etc.) to users. To this
end, the first device used by the user to view the content may be a
television or mobile computing device (e.g. laptop, tablet, etc.)
or even a stationary (desktop) computer. In one embodiment, the
content may be a movie or a (live or prerecorded) television show.
In another embodiment, the content may be an advertisement.
Also in the context of the present embodiment, the user attention
data includes second information describing user activity occurring
on the first device and/or one or more second devices while the
content is being viewed by the user on the first device. The user
activity may refer to a single instance of activity occurring on a
single device, or multiple instances of activity occurring on
multiple devices. In one embodiment, the second information may be
collected via a second service (or multiple services) of the CSP
through which the user activity occurs. For example, the second
information may be collected from a logs, call detail records
(CDRs), browsing reports, etc. generated by the second service
which indicate user activity.
It should be noted that the user activity may be any type of
activity of the user that is separate from the content viewing
activity of the user. The second device may be a mobile phone, as
an option. In one embodiment, the user activity may include the
user browsing one or more websites. In another embodiment, the user
activity may include the user communicating with at least one other
person (e.g. by telephone call, short message service (SMS)
messages, email, etc.
As noted above, the user attention data is collected as the user is
simultaneously watching the content on the first device and
performing other activity on the second device. In this way, the
method 100 may be performed in real-time with respect to the user
watching the content.
As shown in operation 104, the first information and the second
information are processed, using a machine learning model, to
predict a degree to which the user likes the content. Accordingly,
the machine learning model may be any model of a machine learning
algorithm trained to make predictions associated with users liking
viewed content, particularly based on user activity occurring
during viewing of the content.
For example, the machine learning model may be trained using
training data that includes correlations between media viewed by
users and additional activity of the users during the media
viewing. The training data may also indicate a retrospective
estimation of a degree to which the users liked the content viewed,
such that the machine learning algorithm is able to learn a degree
to which a user likes content based on his simultaneous content
viewing and other activity.
As an option, the training data may also include demographic data
for the users. The demographic data may indicate age, occupation,
gender, geographic location, or any other information describing
the users. To this end, the machine learning model may be trained
to predict a degree to which a user likes content in a manner that
is also based on that user's demographic data.
As noted above, the machine learning model processes the first
information and the second information to predict the degree to
which the user likes the content. However, the machine learning
model may also process demographic information collected on the
user, for use in predicting the degree to which the user likes the
content.
Still yet, in operation 106, the prediction is output for use in
making one or more content recommendations. In one embodiment,
making the content recommendations may include selecting additional
content to be targeted to the user. This additional content may
include an advertisement, a television show, a movie, a business
offer, or any other content. For example, the additional content
may be third party content (e.g. an advertisement of a third
party). As another example, the additional content may be content
of the CSP (e.g. a business offer), which can be used by the CSP to
increase stickiness/loyalty, increase lifetime value, etc. (all of
which may be CSP desired key performance indicators (KPIs)).
For example, if the user is predicted to like the content being
viewed to a threshold degree, then additional content relevant to
the content being viewed may be recommended for being targeted to
the user. However, as another example, if the user is predicted to
not like the content being viewed to the threshold degree (i.e.
less than the threshold degree), then the additional content
relevant to the content being viewed may be prevented from being
recommended for the user, or as another option other additional
content (i.e. that is relevant to content other than that being
viewed) may be recommended for being targeted to the user.
Moreover, the recommended additional content may be targeted to the
user. Targeting the additional content to the user may include
presenting the additional content to the user, presenting a clip of
the additional content to the user, sending a link to the
additional content to the user, etc. As an option, the additional
content may be targeted to the user while the content is being
viewed by the user (e.g. as a commercial, as an in-content
advertisement, etc.). As another option, the additional content may
be targeted to the user after the content has been viewed by the
user.
To this end, the method 100 may improve the content recommendations
that are made for users. In particular, this may be accomplished by
more accurately predicting whether a user likes the content he is
currently viewing, based on an analysis of the simultaneous
activity by the user.
Just by way of example, during viewing of a movie or a television
show, a user's attention is often disturbed with calls or text
messages on his mobile phone. If the user ignores interruptions
while viewing content, it may be inferred that the content the user
is viewing is highly interesting to the user (i.e. there is a high
user attention to the content). However, if he accepts a call or
responds to SMS messages while viewing the content, it may be
inferred that the content was less interesting to the user (i.e.
there is a low user attention to the content). Of course, these
assumptions may be dependent on demographics of the user. For
example, the above assumptions may hold true for users of above a
certain age, but may be the opposite for users below a certain age
(e.g. where simultaneous activity indicates a high user attention
to the content being viewed). In any case, predicting the user
attention to the content may allow such user attention to be
providing as a new input when determining what kind of content a
content recommendation system should take into account.
More illustrative information will now be set forth regarding
various optional architectures and uses in which the foregoing
method may or may not be implemented, per the desires of the user.
It should be strongly noted that the following information is set
forth for illustrative purposes and should not be construed as
limiting in any manner. Any of the following features may be
optionally incorporated with or without the exclusion of other
features described.
FIG. 2 illustrates a block diagram of a method 200 for training a
machine learning model to predict content that will be liked by
users, in accordance with one embodiment. The method 200 may be
carried out in the context of the details of the previous figure
and/or any subsequent figure(s). Of course, however, the method 200
may be carried out in the context of any desired environment.
Further, the aforementioned definitions may equally apply to the
description below.
As shown, an untrained machine learning model 202 is trained by one
or more machine learning algorithms which use training data to
generate a trained machine learning model 212. While only one
trained machine learning model 212 is shown, it should be noted
that the output of the training may be multiple machine learning
models, in another embodiment. The machine learning model 212 is
trained to predict a degree to which a user likes content being
viewed by the user, based at least in part on simultaneous activity
of the user.
The training data may be provided for a plurality of users, such
that the machine learning model 212 may be capable of making
predictions for any desired user. The training data includes user
demographics 204, content viewed 206, a retrospective estimation
208 of whether the user liked the content, and user attention
behavior 210 previously learned for the user. The content viewed
206 may include metadata describing the content. In one embodiment,
this metadata may be added as annotations to the content, for
example as described in U.S. patent application Ser. No.
16/986,034, filed herewith on Aug. 5, 2020, and entitled "REAL-TIME
BIDDING BASED SYSTEM, METHOD, AND COMPUTER PROGRAM FOR USING
IN-VIDEO ANNOTATIONS TO SELECT RELEVANT ADVERTISEMENTS FOR
DISTRIBUTION", the entire contents of which are incorporated herein
by reference.
The retrospective estimation 208 may be calculated based on various
information, such as whether the user watched an entirety of the
content (i.e. to the end of the content), whether the user made any
social media posts about the content, whether the user watched any
related content after watching the content, user attention while
watching the content, etc. The user attention behavior 210
previously learned for the user may include an indication of
whether the user engaged in other activity (e.g. phone calls, SMS
messages, upload and/or download of data, watching additional
content, etc.) while watching the content, for example.
FIG. 3 illustrates a block diagram of a method 300 for using the
machine learning model of FIG. 2 to predict in real-time whether a
user will like content, in accordance with one embodiment.
As shown, the machine learning model 212 processes various input
data to predict in real-time whether a user will like content that
is currently being viewed by the user. The input data includes
demographics of the user 302, content being viewed by the user 304,
simultaneous activity of the user 306, and expected simultaneous
activity of the user 308. The expected simultaneous activity of the
user 308 is determined based on prior user attention data collected
on the user.
The output of the machine learning model 212 (i.e. the prediction)
is provided to a content recommendation engine 310. The content
recommendation engine 310 then makes one or more content
recommendations for the user, based on the prediction. The content
recommendations may refer to content recommended to be targeted to
the user. The content recommendation engine may be a machine
learning model, in one embodiment, where an attribute of the user
input to the model may be a user attention score. The user
attention score may be based on number of factors, such as number
of interruptions during a view of content, the time between
interruptions, type of interruption (e.g. call or SMS, etc.) and
the user's responses to these interruptions.
In one embodiment, it may be determined that the user is about to
share information associated with content being viewed (i.e. based
on prior user attention data collected for that user). In another
embodiment, recommendations can be made to improve an experience of
the user, such as recommending additional content at a different
time and/or place when the user is predicted to not be liking the
content being viewed. In yet another embodiment, a level of
engagement (attention) to content may be determined, which may be a
parameter used by advertisers when bidding on advertisement slots
associated with the content.
Further, the prediction may be validated by determining whether the
user actually liked the content or not. This validation may be
performed based actions later taken by the user.
FIG. 4 illustrates a network architecture 400, in accordance with
one possible embodiment. As shown, at least one network 402 is
provided. In the context of the present network architecture 400,
the network 402 may take any form including, but not limited to a
telecommunications network, a local area network (LAN), a wireless
network, a wide area network (WAN) such as the Internet,
peer-to-peer network, cable network, etc. While only one network is
shown, it should be understood that two or more similar or
different networks 402 may be provided.
Coupled to the network 402 is a plurality of devices. For example,
a server computer 404 and an end user computer 406 may be coupled
to the network 402 for communication purposes. Such end user
computer 406 may include a desktop computer, lap-top computer,
and/or any other type of logic. Still yet, various other devices
may be coupled to the network 402 including a personal digital
assistant (PDA) device 408, a mobile phone device 410, a television
412, etc.
FIG. 5 illustrates an exemplary system 500, in accordance with one
embodiment. As an option, the system 500 may be implemented in the
context of any of the devices of the network architecture 400 of
FIG. 4. Of course, the system 500 may be implemented in any desired
environment.
As shown, a system 500 is provided including at least one central
processor 501 which is connected to a communication bus 502. The
system 500 also includes main memory 504 [e.g. random access memory
(RAM), etc.]. The system 500 also includes a graphics processor 506
and a display 508.
The system 500 may also include a secondary storage 510. The
secondary storage 510 includes, for example, solid state drive
(SSD), flash memory, a removable storage drive, etc. The removable
storage drive reads from and/or writes to a removable storage unit
in a well-known manner.
Computer programs, or computer control logic algorithms, may be
stored in the main memory 504, the secondary storage 510, and/or
any other memory, for that matter. Such computer programs, when
executed, enable the system 500 to perform various functions (as
set forth above, for example). Memory 504, storage 510 and/or any
other storage are possible examples of non-transitory
computer-readable media.
The system 500 may also include one or more communication modules
512. The communication module 512 may be operable to facilitate
communication between the system 500 and one or more networks,
and/or with one or more devices through a variety of possible
standard or proprietary communication protocols (e.g. via
Bluetooth, Near Field Communication (NFC), Cellular communication,
etc.).
As used here, a "computer-readable medium" includes one or more of
any suitable media for storing the executable instructions of a
computer program such that the instruction execution machine,
system, apparatus, or device may read (or fetch) the instructions
from the computer readable medium and execute the instructions for
carrying out the described methods. Suitable storage formats
include one or more of an electronic, magnetic, optical, and
electromagnetic format. A non-exhaustive list of conventional
exemplary computer readable medium includes: a portable computer
diskette; a RAM; a ROM; an erasable programmable read only memory
(EPROM or flash memory); optical storage devices, including a
portable compact disc (CD), a portable digital video disc (DVD), a
high definition DVD (HD-DVD.TM.), a BLU-RAY disc; and the like.
It should be understood that the arrangement of components
illustrated in the Figures described are exemplary and that other
arrangements are possible. It should also be understood that the
various system components (and means) defined by the claims,
described below, and illustrated in the various block diagrams
represent logical components in some systems configured according
to the subject matter disclosed herein.
For example, one or more of these system components (and means) may
be realized, in whole or in part, by at least some of the
components illustrated in the arrangements illustrated in the
described Figures. In addition, while at least one of these
components are implemented at least partially as an electronic
hardware component, and therefore constitutes a machine, the other
components may be implemented in software that when included in an
execution environment constitutes a machine, hardware, or a
combination of software and hardware.
More particularly, at least one component defined by the claims is
implemented at least partially as an electronic hardware component,
such as an instruction execution machine (e.g., a processor-based
or processor-containing machine) and/or as specialized circuits or
circuitry (e.g., discreet logic gates interconnected to perform a
specialized function). Other components may be implemented in
software, hardware, or a combination of software and hardware.
Moreover, some or all of these other components may be combined,
some may be omitted altogether, and additional components may be
added while still achieving the functionality described herein.
Thus, the subject matter described herein may be embodied in many
different variations, and all such variations are contemplated to
be within the scope of what is claimed.
In the description above, the subject matter is described with
reference to acts and symbolic representations of operations that
are performed by one or more devices, unless indicated otherwise.
As such, it will be understood that such acts and operations, which
are at times referred to as being computer-executed, include the
manipulation by the processor of data in a structured form. This
manipulation transforms the data or maintains it at locations in
the memory system of the computer, which reconfigures or otherwise
alters the operation of the device in a manner well understood by
those skilled in the art. The data is maintained at physical
locations of the memory as data structures that have particular
properties defined by the format of the data. However, while the
subject matter is being described in the foregoing context, it is
not meant to be limiting as those of skill in the art will
appreciate that several of the acts and operations described
hereinafter may also be implemented in hardware.
To facilitate an understanding of the subject matter described
herein, many aspects are described in terms of sequences of
actions. At least one of these aspects defined by the claims is
performed by an electronic hardware component. For example, it will
be recognized that the various actions may be performed by
specialized circuits or circuitry, by program instructions being
executed by one or more processors, or by a combination of both.
The description herein of any sequence of actions is not intended
to imply that the specific order described for performing that
sequence must be followed. All methods described herein may be
performed in any suitable order unless otherwise indicated herein
or otherwise clearly contradicted by context.
The use of the terms "a" and "an" and "the" and similar referents
in the context of describing the subject matter (particularly in
the context of the following claims) are to be construed to cover
both the singular and the plural, unless otherwise indicated herein
or clearly contradicted by context. Recitation of ranges of values
herein are merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of
referring individually to each separate value falling within the
range, unless otherwise indicated herein, and each separate value
is incorporated into the specification as if it were individually
recited herein. Furthermore, the foregoing description is for the
purpose of illustration only, and not for the purpose of
limitation, as the scope of protection sought is defined by the
claims as set forth hereinafter together with any equivalents
thereof entitled to. The use of any and all examples, or exemplary
language (e.g., "such as") provided herein, is intended merely to
better illustrate the subject matter and does not pose a limitation
on the scope of the subject matter unless otherwise claimed. The
use of the term "based on" and other like phrases indicating a
condition for bringing about a result, both in the claims and in
the written description, is not intended to foreclose any other
conditions that bring about that result. No language in the
specification should be construed as indicating any non-claimed
element as essential to the practice of the invention as
claimed.
The embodiments described herein included the one or more modes
known to the inventor for carrying out the claimed subject matter.
Of course, variations of those embodiments will become apparent to
those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading the foregoing
description. The inventor expects skilled artisans to employ such
variations as appropriate, and the inventor intends for the claimed
subject matter to be practiced otherwise than as specifically
described herein. Accordingly, this claimed subject matter includes
all modifications and equivalents of the subject matter recited in
the claims appended hereto as permitted by applicable law.
Moreover, any combination of the above-described elements in all
possible variations thereof is encompassed unless otherwise
indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context.
While various embodiments have been described above, it should be
understood that they have been presented by way of example only,
and not limitation. Thus, the breadth and scope of a preferred
embodiment should not be limited by any of the above-described
exemplary embodiments, but should be defined only in accordance
with the following claims and their equivalents.
* * * * *